My 75 Gallon Tank

[newreefbishop]

your using cured rock. There ill be no dieoff. the tank won't spike in most cases

 

[adham88]

Since my tank is ready, it's time to decide on a clean up crew. I contacted the guy from reefcleaners.org and he suggested a bunch of things. This is the list he gave me:
15 Limpets
15 Mixed Larger Ceriths
85 Dwarf Cerith Snails
30 Small to medium Nerites
26 Nassarius Snails (To clean up after the fish you are planning for, feed them a little flake every other day until the fish are in).
15 Blue Legs
That's about 185 creatures in a 75 gallon. Is that too much? What are some suggestions for a good clean up crew?

 

[timschmidt]

Wow, I want to know this answer because if this is normal then my CUC is woefully under-stocked. I ordered 10 dwarf blue leg, 10 dwarf zebra, 10 nassarius snails, 6 astrea snails, 4 cerith snails and a cleaner shrimp. All in a 90 gallon tank.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12848094#post12848094 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adham88
Since my tank is ready, it's time to decide on a clean up crew. I contacted the guy from reefcleaners.org and he suggested a bunch of things. This is the list he gave me:
15 Limpets
15 Mixed Larger Ceriths
85 Dwarf Cerith Snails
30 Small to medium Nerites
26 Nassarius Snails (To clean up after the fish you are planning for, feed them a little flake every other day until the fish are in).
15 Blue Legs
That's about 185 creatures in a 75 gallon. Is that too much? What are some suggestions for a good clean up crew?

IMO that is too much for a newly cycled tank---eventually building up to that no problem

suggestion to start
5 limptes
10 cerith
10 nerites
10 nesssarius
2 hermits---if you are concentrating on snails then the hermits will eventually clean out your population of them by killing them for their shells

a brittle star is a good addition to a clean up crew and so are two ornamental shrimps---copper banded, cleaner or a pair of one or the other

 

[newreefbishop]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12848094#post12848094 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adham88
Since my tank is ready, it's time to decide on a clean up crew. I contacted the guy from reefcleaners.org and he suggested a bunch of things. This is the list he gave me:
15 Limpets
15 Mixed Larger Ceriths
85 Dwarf Cerith Snails
30 Small to medium Nerites
26 Nassarius Snails (To clean up after the fish you are planning for, feed them a little flake every other day until the fish are in).
15 Blue Legs
That's about 185 creatures in a 75 gallon. Is that too much? What are some suggestions for a good clean up crew?

I agree that this is way too much for a brand new tank, and maybe even for a fully stocked tank. for a tank that size....

15 Blue legs
10 red Leg Hermits
5 Limpets (they breed easily)
10 Nassarius
20 Ceriths

A bristle Star...be sure to get the one that doest eat fish a green.....maybe

And some...a pair of skunk cleaner shrimp.....

The snails will die over time....just keep replenishing them as they do.....if you have a fuge you can breed them in there.....as I do...

 

[newreefbishop]

2 hermits---if you are concentrating on snails then the hermits will eventually clean out your population of them by killing them for their shells

From experience you are right.....to a certain degree. If you have shells (extra shells of varying sizes) the hermits will leave the snails alone. It is true the hermits can kill snails and it does happen, but I think the benefits of having them outweigh the cons..... I have had 20-30 hermits at all times since the days of having my 65 gallon.

I have also always kept a stock of at least 30-40 snails....and now with my refugium....I am able to replace them every 4 months or so....

 

[adham88]

Thanks for all the help!
I'm going to start off with what Capn suggested then move my way up like newreefbishop mentioned.
As for the star, which ones can I have in there without harming anything? Also, are you saying I can only have 2 shrimp total in the tank or is that just to start off? I believe Capn mentioned I can mix the pair...

 

[newreefbishop]

as far as the shrimp are concerned......if you are mixing various species you need to introduce them at the same time....you can have probably 6-10 shrimp in a tank that size.....to be safe just get a pair of each....and introduce at the same time....coral banded have never been apart of my cleanup crew however because they can be aggressive to other shrimp.....

http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-CoralBandedShrimp.htm

http://www.aquahobby.com/marine/e_stenopus.php

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/shrimpcare/p/cbshrimp.htm#

just be wary of that.....

 

[adham88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12850002#post12850002 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by newreefbishop
as far as the shrimp are concerned......if you are mixing various species you need to introduce them at the same time....you can have probably 6-10 shrimp in a tank that size.....to be safe just get a pair of each....and introduce at the same time....coral banded have never been apart of my cleanup crew however because they can be aggressive to other shrimp.....

http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-CoralBandedShrimp.htm

http://www.aquahobby.com/marine/e_stenopus.php

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/shrimpcare/p/cbshrimp.htm#

just be wary of that.....

Oh nevermind those then
I'll get 2 of the cleaner skunk shrimp at first and the add to them later on. It's ok if I don't get these all at the same time right?

 

[newreefbishop]

You can add them as you feel....those shrimp are peaceful and beautiful.....and you can get a few peppermint shrimp too....those are also harmless.....

 

[adham88]

another question,
You mentioned some of the stars eat fish, which stars are harmless other than the green one you already mentioned?

 

[newreefbishop]

the culprit is the banded brittle star.....the issue here is that some brittle stars are fine and others arent.....the one in my tank is fine....SO FAR.....

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1541

http://www.marinedepotlive.com/ps_ViewItem~idproduct~ML0621639-03.html

 

[adham88]

Thanks for clarifying that. I can probably do without one for now.
On to the next question
Do I need some sort of top cover or something to keep all these critters from crawling out the tank?
Also, in the meantime untill I get an auto top off system, what's the best way to top off the water in the tank without causing fluctuations? My tank water evaporates very often making the salinity fluctuate between 1.026(where I try to keep it) and 1.027.

 

[newreefbishop]

Ill try to answer this simply.....

If you have fish that jump then you can use egg-crate to cover the tank.....you should be able to find it at home deopt etc....you will come to know what fishes will jump soon after introduction. I had it over my 65 gallon tank but have since removed it and dont use it on my larger tank. You dont want to put anything over the tank that will trap heat and prevent evaporation, unless you have a chiller, but even then it isnt recomended because you want air transfer....

As far as you auto top off I suggest bringing your salinity down to 1.025 and and placing a mark in your sump in the section with the return pump at the water line. Let evap happen over one day....and place another mark. Keep in mind that during winter time or periods of low humidity you will have greater evaporation. Just make sure to top it off every day.....or if you some kind of mathematician calculate how much water is evaporated per day, over a week days and get an average. After which you can find a way to drip that amount in every 24 hours. Or just spend the 75-100 bucks and get a good Auto Top Off.....it will save you alot of headache.

 

[adham88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12851837#post12851837 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by newreefbishop
Ill try to answer this simply.....

If you have fish that jump then you can use egg-crate to cover the tank.....you should be able to find it at home deopt etc....you will come to know what fishes will jump soon after introduction. I had it over my 65 gallon tank but have since removed it and dont use it on my larger tank. You dont want to put anything over the tank that will trap heat and prevent evaporation, unless you have a chiller, but even then it isnt recomended because you want air transfer....

As far as you auto top off I suggest bringing your salinity down to 1.025 and and placing a mark in your sump in the section with the return pump at the water line. Let evap happen over one day....and place another mark. Keep in mind that during winter time or periods of low humidity you will have greater evaporation. Just make sure to top it off every day.....or if you some kind of mathematician calculate how much water is evaporated per day, over a week days and get an average. After which you can find a way to drip that amount in every 24 hours. Or just spend the 75-100 bucks and get a good Auto Top Off.....it will save you alot of headache.

I didn't know that auto top off systems were that cheap. I was thinking more in the 200.00 range. Any suggestions on a good one?

 

[adham88]

bump

 

[newreefbishop]

I use this one

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...gory~FIDPETPU~category~JBJ_Automatic_Top_Off_(A.T.O.)_System_Water_Level_Controller_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Dosing_Pumps_Top_Off_Electric_Powered_Plug_in_Units~vendor~.html

works well.....havent had an issue I have heard of some people saying plunger jams, but if you clean once a week or when you do water changes I dont think you will be one of those people.

here is another

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...f_Electric_Powered_Plug_in_Units~vendor~.html

 

[adham88]

The links aren't working for some reason.

 

[Aquarist007]

they didn't work for me either and I would be interested in this also

 

[singold]

Nice aquascaping, looks great!